Syrian President Bashar Assad announced a general amnesty for prisoners in the country, state media reported, less than a week after he was re-elected to another seven-year term amid a bloody civil war.

Syrian president Bashar Assad has declared a general amnesty for prisoners in the country, state media reported.

The inspectors responsible for tracking down Syria’s chemical arms stockpile and verifying its destruction plan to start work there by Tuesday. They will face their tightest deadlines ever and work right in the heart of a war zone, according to a draft decision.